PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 187, 25 April 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

HIGH WATBB. Wednesday ... 7.(5 a.m. ... 7.30 p.m. AIUUVED. April 24— Yavra, p.s., Nioholl, from Groymouth, 7 passengers. Henderson and Bonar, agents. SAIIiBD. April 24— Nil. ENTEEED IN. Yarra, from Greymouth. Susannah Booth, from Sydney. CHBABED OUT. „" Nil. . ' EXPECTED ABBIVAIB. ,a South Australian, from DuuedinJV 27th Qotlienburg, from Melbourne, 30th May. Isabella, from Dunedin. Pearl, from Dunedin. Dunedin, from Dunedin, early. Maria, from Melbourne, enrly. Mary, from Melbourne, early. Caledonia, from Dnnedin, daily. PROJECTED DEPABTUEES, Colonist, for Sydney, to-day. Australian Maid, for Bruce Bay, to-day. Star of the Evening, for Melbourne, 26th Lloyd's Herald, for Okarita, to-day. Kate, for Okarita early. South Australian, for Melbourno, 28th inst. Susannah Booth, for Sydney, 28th inst. Bruce, for Okarita, to-morrow. VEBBEIS IN POBT. BrigantineB — Colonist, Susannah Booth. tiohooners— Caroline, Meteor, Tambo, Elfin, Mary Jane, Moyno, Matilda, Kato, Lloyd's Herald, Falcon. Steamers— Ballarat, Challenge, Star of the Evening, Bruco, Yarra.

The schooner Mary Jano was on Monday beached on the south side of the river, for the purpose of having her bottom cleaned, and sundry other repairs effected. We are glad to sco the p.B. Bruce is undergoing an overhaul and having her bottom cleaned and painted. Dnring the past nine months this useful boat has beon constantly at work, having made .uoro trips up and down the coast than any other vessel in the port, besides doing an immense amount of harbor work. On Monday last she was hauled over on the South Shore, and beached, and sinco then her crew have been hard at work scraping and painting. The Bruce will bo again ready for work in a day or two. The brigantine Susannah Booth left Sydney on the 14th inst. with light winds and fine weather, and made the land off Hokitika on the 23rd, crossing tho bar in tow of the Challenge tho same evening. During tho passage she experienced very favorable, though light, weather. She brings a full gonoral cargo. Yesterday Mr Whito, the agent for tho P.N.Z. company, received a telegram from Nelson to tho effect that tho Claud Hamilton left that port at 4 a.m. for tho Grey and Hokitika. Her arrival hero may therefore bo expected by noon to-day, as her detention at tho Grey vrill not exceed an hour or two, tho Persevere being tluro ready to tender her. Tho Claud Hamilton will remain hero a few hours only, and again leave for tho Bluff, Duuodin, and Molbourno. The Ballarat, p. 6., returned to port on Monday after a fortnight's sojourn at tho Grey, where she has been gotting a new rudder made and shipped. Wo hope that soon wo shall- see her hard at work again. The p.s. Yarra arrived yesterday from tho Grey, whore sho has been fully employed sinco the 20th inst. She loft Hokitika on that day with passengers on board for the Claud Hamilton, then lying in thtf roadstead ; and after transhipping them, and in return receiving on board a numbor whose destination was Greymouth, she started for that port, and crossed the bar early oa tide. Landed her passengers at the Quay and shipped a frcsli supply for tho Claud Hamilton, with which sho recrosscd tho bar, and found that vessel in tho roadstead waiting their arrival. Another transhipment was effected, and 100 sheep received in exchange, when the Claud steamed away for Nelson, and as tho tide was too far gone, the Yarra remained in the offing all night. Tho next day sho fastened to the schooner Aparima, which had arrived during tho night, and towed her inside to tho coal wharf, aud afterwards disoharged the sheep. Preparations for rolauuching the schooner Sea Bird from off the North Beach having boon completed, the services of the Yarra were engaged to tow her through the surf. When opposite the Bi'gnal station a long lino was sent on board and made fast to the tow warp, one end of it being retained on shore, and the middle buoyed with two water casks to ease tho drag. The steamer then crossed the bar and ran slowly along the beach just outside tho line of surf, and a number of men tracked the line abreast her on shore. Arriving opposite the schooner the Yarra dropped her anchor, and two hundred fathoms of towline were paid out, hauled on shore and fastened to the schooner. At a givon signal the tug turned ahead, and as tho warp tightened, the shores were knooked away, and like an arrow the Sea Bird darted off tho ways, breasted tho surf gallantly, and was towed safely outside into smooth water. Tho Sea Bird is the third vessel which has been launched through the surf, and tho manner in which hor removal was effected, reflects the greatest credit on all concerned in it. Tho Yarra did her work remarkably well, and tho contractors speak in the highest terms of the way in which Captain Nicoll handled her, for not a single hitch occurred in the arrangements from first to lasfc. With her oharge in tow the tug ran inside tho same tide, thus completing that which wo believe to have been a very profitable day's work. We are glad to hear that the Sea Bird is not at all damaged, and will soon be ready for sea again. The next day tho Yarra towed in the Star of Tasmania, from Christchurch, and then fastening to tho Mary Anne, towed her out, cast her adrift in the oiling, and steamed for Hokitika, £nd after a smart run of two hours and a half, dropped hor anchor off tho bar at 8 p.m. The weather being very thick at the time, she remained outside until morning, when Bhe ran in and reached tho wharf safely. Tho Yarra has mucli benofittcd by tho thorough overhaul she has lately received, tho alterations offocted in her machinery having considerably increased her speed and power. This is tho first trip made by her since she was laid up, and wo must confess the new era has commenced most auspiciously aud hope that this smart little tug snd her persevering inastor will bo as successful as they deserve.